-디
-di
so very (repeated for emphasis)
Attaches to descriptive verb (adjective) stems and is repeated with the base form to intensify a quality, as in '높고 높다' becoming '높디높다' — 'so very X'.
Meanings
- 1
A connective ending used when repeating a part of words that expresses state and emphasizing its meaning.
상태를 나타내는 말의 일부를 반복하며 그 뜻을 강조함을 나타내는 연결 어미.
※ 주로 '-디-은', '-디-게', '-디-다'로 쓴다.
Examples
꽃이 벌써 붉디붉게 물들었다.
The flowers have already turned a deep, deep red.
산이 높고 크디크다.
The mountain is tall and oh so massive.
그녀는 희디흰 손으로 내 손을 잡았다.
She took my hand with her pure white hands.
패배한 선수는 쓰디쓰게 웃음을 지었다.
The defeated athlete gave a bitter, bitter smile.
그는 넓디넓은 바다를 바라보며 생각에 잠겼다.
He gazed out at the vast, endless sea, lost in thought.
차디찬 방은 주인이 오랜 시간 방을 비웠음을 충분히 짐작하게 했다.
The ice-cold room made it easy to guess that its owner had been away for a long time.
Examples: 한국어기초사전, CC BY-SA 2.0 KR.
Quick check
1. What does ‘-디’ mean?
2. Which form means “so very (repeated for emphasis)”?